California Governing Body Information

2018 Marijuana Packaging Laws Update

Oregon was the very first state to decriminalize cannabis in 1973, and possession of one ounce or less became a civil violation, similar to a traffic ticket. Again leading the nation in medical cannabis, Oregon Ballot Measure 6 made medical cannabis legal in the state by voting into law the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act in 1998. Once again among first adopters in 2014, Measure 91 was approved, allowing the use of non-medical growing and use of marijuana by adults.

Even though cannabis is legal for both medical and recreational use in the Beaver State, there are still regulations on how much citizens and even medical patient cardholders can have in public, smoke in public, grow a few plants in their house, or make small amounts cannabis products. Many violations of recreational cannabis laws in Oregon result in misdemeanors, with harsher legal penalties like felonies reserved for trafficking, manufacture, cultivation of large amounts. Giving cannabis to a minor or making an exchange within 1000 feet of a school is a felony.

Cannabis Laws in Oregon

The Beaver State has long been a leader in passage of not only medical but recreational marijuana laws. Their medical marijuana program operated by the Oregon Health Authority has itself become a model for other states, even though its laws are very permissive, allowing medical cannabis patients to cultivate their own plants as well as possess over a pound of cannabis. Full legalization of cannabis further broadened some rules, allowing adults to grow and give small amounts, as long as they don’t interfere with state-backed cannabis dispensaries.

Retail Cannabis Business Rules in Oregon

Cannabis packaging and retail laws in the Beaver State are well developed, as they have other West Coast states like California to model their cannabis regulations after. Also, the Oregon Health Authority and the taxation department have had a few years to refine the laws to meet the needs of both businesses, consumers, and law enforcement. Full laws are always changing, but in general, Oregon requires secure packaging with some sort of child proof feature, as well as plenty of room for warning labels on every kind of cannabis edible, extract, or pure plant matter.

2017 Marijuana Packaging Laws Update

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program regulates how dispensaries can sell medical cannabis in the state, and they’ve set very detailed regulations about both labeling and packaging of all cannabis flowers and products. The OMMP is mostly concerned with children not finding packaging appealing or being able to open packages, so choosing childproof containers for your medical cannabis products is a good start.

The rules and regulations for packaging and labeling are complex, but they give instructions in the main law. Here are some of those more detailed rules, but you can find them all on the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program website.

“(1) For purposes of this rule:

(a) “Child-resistant safety packaging” means:

(A) Containers designed and constructed to be significantly difficult for children under five years of age to open and not difficult for adults to use properly;

(B) Opaque so that the product cannot be seen from outside the packaging;

(C) Closable for any product intended for more than a single use or containing multiple servings; and

(D) Labeled in accordance with OAR 333-008-1220.

(b) “Container” means a sealed, hard, or soft-bodied receptacle in which a tetrahydrocannabinol infused product is placed prior to being transferred to a patient or caregiver.

c) “Packaged in a manner not attractive to minors” means the tetrahydrocannabinol-infused product is not in a container that is brightly colored, depicts cartoons or images other than the logo of the facility unless the logo of the facility depicts cartoons, in which case only the name of the facility is permitted.

(2) A registered facility may not transfer any tetrahydrocannabinol-infused product that is meant to be swallowed or inhaled unless the product is:

(a) In child-resistant safety packaging; and

(b) Packaged in a manner that is not attractive to minors.”

“(10) Packaging and Labeling. On and after October 1, 2016, a registered processing site must comply with the labeling requirements in OAR 333-007-0010 to 333-007-0100 and the packaging requirements in OAR 845-025-7000 to 845-025-7020 and 845-025-7060.”

Quotes taken from the Rules for the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program, 333-008-1225 Packaging.